This means that you can believe in Jesus, even believe fervently, without necessarily believing in the same Jesus as someone else. The question of just who Jesus is, of his true identity, is a critical one. And it is the topic of today's gospel, where Peter wins the quiz with his answer, "You are the Messiah." (Matthew's gospel adds "Son of the living God," and Luke says "Messiah of God.") But it soon becomes very clear that knowing Jesus is the Messiah (or Son of God) in no way means that you understand his true identity. No sooner has Peter made his confession about Jesus being God's Anointed One than he starts trying to correct Jesus, explaining to him that Messiahs aren't allowed to die.
We who are Christians have our own versions of this. We proclaim Jesus Messiah and Son of God but then insist that Messiahs don't get mixed up in politics and tell us how to vote. Yes, Jesus said turn the other cheek, but Messiahs don't get to weigh in on national defense policy. Messiahs are supposed to confine themselves to personal spirituality and morality. They need to understand that the work world has its own rules.
My own Presbyterian tradition emerged from the Protestant Reformation that professed sola scriptura (Scripture alone), and it declared itself The Church Reformed, Always Being Reformed by the Word of God. We claim that the singular witness to who Jesus is, to his true identity, is the Bible. But then, of course, we do some very selective reading of that Bible and come up with a Jesus that suits us.
This has gone on from the beginning of our tradition, but in our day, we have put a new spin on it. Since we rarely read our Bibles, we are free to construct whatever Jesus we want to cobble together from things we've heard or that we've picked up here and there. And just like Peter, we correct Jesus and tell him that Messiahs behave and act such and such a way. But unlike Peter, who is immediately and rather harshly corrected by Jesus, we go on our ways oblivious to the fact that our custom order Jesus, made just the way we want him, may be no Jesus at all.
Now I'll be the first to admit that I often wish Jesus would be a little more proactive about this. Why doesn't Jesus speak to us as he does to Peter? Why must he speak indirectly through Scripture? I would say that my greatest source of spiritual frustration is wanting a bit more clarity and direct communication from God. But... and it's a big but. It's not as though Jesus isn't pretty clear about a lot of things, about how I am to live and act, how I am to love my neighbor and even my enemy, how if I have more than enough and someone doesn't have much of anything, I must share. There are a lot of times when I know exactly what Jesus expects of me, but I say, "No thanks, I'll take that other Jesus."
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